HAO Bass Liner Pedal Review

Over the last few years,
more and more bassists
have found practical applications
for preamp pedals.
Traditionally used for additional
tone-shaping options,
some of these pedals also provide
an extra boost in signal
when needed for those standout
moments. Japanese designer
HAO has recently thrown
their hat (or box) into an ever-expanding
ring of preamp pedals,
working with amplification
expert Phil Jones in designing
the Bass Liner. And the result
is a 5-band EQ that provides
flexible enhancements in an
easy-to-use package.

Say HAO-dy to the
Bass Liner
The simple layout of the solidly
constructed Bass Liner invites
the player to jump right in and
experiment with its EQ. Phil
Jones’ touch is evident in the
five upper knobs, for the EQ
frequency centers are ones that
he favors on many of his amplifiers.
With a middle detent to
prevent any unnecessary coloration,
each knob offers 18 dB
of boost or cut.

Below the EQ section is a
pair of beefier knobs, one of
which is for setting the input
gain and is accompanied by a
handy clip light. Its partner to
the left is a level dial that can
boost the signal up to 10 dB.
A mute footswitch disables the
main signal, while the 1/4"
direct out sends a continuous,
clean signal to a tuner or
other device.

Line Up for
Tonal Clarity
Tonally, the Bass Liner
confirmed its true-bypass
status, accurately delivering
the sounds of a 1964
Fender Jazz and a Fender P
Bass Special going into a Phil
Jones D-600 amp and two
Glockenklang Space Deluxe
112s. The EQ is voiced very
well, adding booty and brightness,
or midrange presence
when necessary. The bark and
bite of the bridge pickup on
both basses benefitted from
a boost in the Bass Liner’s
160 Hz, 630 Hz, and 2.5
kHz knobs. The 50 Hz dial
gave the Precision’s pickup
a “dubby” thump, and the
brightness of the 12 kHz
added some nice, modern zing
to my vintage Jazz.

I found the Bass Liner
to be a sonically satisfying
pedal, with the level feature
being the only thing that
left a little to be desired.
While it did offer enough
of a clean boost to be
noticeable, there are other
preamp pedals in this
price range that offer a
bit more headroom—
enough that one could
run them directly into
a power amp.

The Verdict
HAO was wise when deciding
to collaborate with Phil Jones
on the Bass Liner, and these like
minds have designed a preamp
with great tonal accuracy and no
loss in the low end. Its flexible
EQ acts like a secret spice, offering
a hint of embellishment or a
blast to the tonal taste buds. The
Bass Liner can also breathe life
into a valuable, vintage instrument,
without having to carve
craters into its body for an active
onboard system. And one who
brings multiple instruments to a
gig could really benefit from the
pedal, for it can provide a needed
boost to an instrument with
a lower output and help balance
the overall signal. No, it’s not
cheap, but its transparency and
ease of use might make the Bass
Liner the perfect preamp pedal
for your rig.

David Abdo is a first call bassist in the Midwest. He has performed with a wide spectrum of artists in Jazz, R&B, Blues, Latin, and Rock. He also counsels fellow musicians who are struggling with G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome), a condition that he has been battling for many years.

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